Chapter 45: Chapter 48 – The Moirai Mountains

Outside the shadowy cave entrance of the Moirai Dungeon, the scouting party sent in the preliminary scouts. Theseus, Leo, Gemini, Centos, Vodyanoi, Naiad, and Ju Long stood outside the dark entrance of the Moirai Dungeon with a small yet brave guard unit. In the initial scouting party were Theseus and Gemini. Theseus sent in a Ghostly Projection while Gemini sent in a twin. Because neither could die from this, it was the best course of action.

“Good luck!” Vodyanoi waved as the clones of the duo entered the Dungeon.

There was nothing inside the dungeon as far as Theseus and Gemini could tell.

“Where are all the monsters?” Gemini questioned the Ghostly Projection of Theseus. Because the Ghostly Projection was not a powerful skill, the current projection of Theseus was weaker than a Captain, but the projection wasn’t completely useless, however. It still had Theseus’s mind. The projection was there more or less to guide Gemini since the Ghostly Projection was just a clone and couldn’t transmit its memories to the real Theseus.

Gemini’s Twin on the other hand shared its memories with the surviving twin or twins.

“I don’t know where they are…” Theseus responded. As they continued walking down the long corridor of the cave, their scenery suddenly changed.

“Huh?” Gemini looked around. They were teleported into the same cavern depicted in Theseus’s nightmare.

“Stay on guard.” Theseus warned Gemini as Gemini got his bearings.

“You couldn’t even bother to come yourself? After all we’ve done for you?” A cackling old lady appeared from the darkness.

“Lachesis.” Theseus muttered, but before they could talk, Lachesis snapped her fingers and the Ghostly Projection shattered.

“Who’s Lachesis?” Gemini thought desperately. The Ghostly Projection at nearly a Captain’s level was easily shattered by this old lady. Just how strong could she be?

“How insolent. Sending a clone.” Lachesis clicked her teeth and snapped her fingers again.

The real Theseus appeared before her.

“Hello, my dear Champion. Congratulations on defeating Lord Darkin.” Lachesis smiled deviously.

“Theseus, what’s going on?” The Gemini Twin asked Theseus, who was shaking with fear.

“Lachesis, we are here to investigate the Moirai Dungeon. We are boxed between the mountains and the Desolate, and we have no choice but to investigate where to expand.” Theseus said, not withholding his intentions. It wasn’t as if she didn’t already know his intentions to begin with, but it appeared like he underestimated how powerful she truly was. If she wanted, she could easily kill him any time and could teleport him nonchalantly.

“I understand, Elder Theseus. It is only right to be worried about things you do not yet understand.

I will make this simple for you.

The Oceanic Realm has been allowed to exist on the First Floor because of my sisters and I.

We wish to play games to pass the time, and the Oceanic Realm was the perfect idea to raise up a new land, a new kingdom. Oceanus, was it?” Lachesis giggled at the name.

“What is your purpose of all of this? What do you want now that Darkin is gone?” Theseus cautiously asked.

“Destiny waits for no man. After the Oceanic Realm, Horrors and Gods await to annihilate you and your new home. If you want to survive, challenge the Moirai Dungeon. Similar to the Heavenly Trials, us three sisters will challenge you and your new party, here in Hell. You can consider it… A Demonic Trial.” Smiled Lachesis sinisterly.

“Why go to this length?” Theseus demanded to know. There was no reason to be so invested in Oceanus. If they didn’t care, why let Oceanus live now that the game was done?

“The Floor Administrator of Floor One has an understanding with us, the Moirai. After a period of time, we are to bring about a chosen warrior to face him. If we win, we will get the First Floor.” Lachesis explained.

“You want me to face the Administrator? Why?” Theseus couldn’t wrap his head around all of this.

“Simply for fun!” Lachesis laughed manically. Gemini listened in horror.

“I will not make you sign a Soul Contract against your will like before… I truly underestimated how crafty you were. I honestly didn’t think you could beat Lord Darkin. However, if you don’t play along with us further, razing the Oceanic Realm to the ground would be as simple as snapping my fingers.” Lachesis snapped her fingers, causing Gemini to flinch and tremble.

“Don’t be scared, little one. King Theseus shall defeat the Moirai Dungeon with Oceanus at his side. Then, he will face the Desolate. Then, he will conquer the First Floor for us. Together, we can conquer Hell.” Lachesis’s face shone with a glimpse of insanity.

“So, is this their real plan, to conquer Hell?” Thought Theseus. That was truly impossible. To them, he was a figurehead, a pawn. If he played along, he could survive, but the stakes would gradually grow larger and out of control.

“Fine. I agree.” Theseus responded with determination.

“Theseus?” Gemini questioned with concern in his eyes. Theseus nodded and motioned for Gemini to be quiet by putting his finger to his mouth to hush him.

“As the Champion of Destiny, I guarantee that if you follow our instructions, Hell will be conquered, and Oceanus will survive, forever.” Lachesis promised with crazy eyes.

“For now, I will play along with your game, Lachesis.” Theseus nodded, and Lachesis burst out into laughter.

“It’s not like you have a choice, now? Do you?” Lachesis suddenly turned serious and snapped her fingers again, sending him and Gemini back to the entrance of the Dungeon.

***

“Theseus?” Gemini spoke in a quiet voice at the entrance of the Moirai Dungeon.

Not even 15 minutes had passed since the clones entered, and everyone was waiting around in suspense. Gemini was shaking uncontrollably. Never in his life had he experienced the power of a Deity before, and his worldview was changed forever. He always thought Theseus was the peak of strength, but compared to Lachesis, Theseus was nothing.

“Was this why he trained so hard?” Gemini wondered. Theseus was considerably stronger than everyone else, but he never stopped once he reached the top, as if he was trying to overcome something far greater.

In hindsight, Gemini would have thought that the Fairy Queen Fayette would be the peak in Theseus’s mind, but after meeting Lachesis, Gemini wasn’t so sure anymore.

“Gemini, don’t take what you saw into heart. I will serve no God nor Goddess.” Theseus whispered as he placed his hand on Gemini’s shoulder.

“We have to explore every option before deciding on the right path. I said what the Goddess wanted to hear, but I will not be their champion, their pawn. I am no slave.”

Conquering Hell was a futile dream that not even Theseus ever considered. The Moirai and the Deities were fools to Theseus. Being mortal didn’t matter to Theseus; all he wanted was the safety of his friends and Oceanus.

“Will we conquer the Moirai Dungeon?” Ju Long inquired. Out of everyone there, he was the most enthusiastic. Theseus was unsure why.

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“Maybe, but first we need to investigate the Desolate. If the Desolate is blocked off, the Moirai Dungeon is our only option. With the projected growth of the Oceanic Realm, we will run out of supplies and food within the next ten years. Unless we can subjugate either the Moirai or the Desolate, Oceanus will fall to ruin.” Theseus explained.

Gemini agreed. Whenever the Oceanic Realm rose above the Suzerain Treaty with a higher form of government, they would fall to the Desolate, Moirai, or unsustainable growth. Maybe Elder Taurus was right; the Suzerain way was the only way that could keep the Oceanic Realm from falling into ruin.

“Gemini, snap out of it. We’re heading to the Desolate.” Theseus snapped his fingers, bringing Gemini out of his own mind.

***

“Your champion doesn’t like you much, Lachesis.” Atropos mocked.

“At least my champion won.” Lachesis shot back at her elder sister.

“Tsk. Next time, I will win.” Atropos hated Theseus. This idealist fought against their absolute rule and didn’t treat them with the respect they deserved.

“Why does there always have to be a next time?” Clotho sighed out.

“Theseus is an idealist. Therefore, he will never bow to you, Lachesis.” Clotho lectured.

“Isn’t that what we predicted?” Lachesis grumbled.

“Once a champion rises who can face our dungeon and the Desolate, we will know that that champion is the chosen one. Do you really think Theseus is the one?” Atropos questioned honestly. She liked to argue with Lachesis, but both of them only had pieces of Destiny. Only together could they influence the course of history.

“This time, the threads of fate seem to respond to him.” Clotho said, holding the yarn of fate in her arms.

“Theseus will be the one to open the dungeon’s secret; I can feel it in my soul.” Lachesis told Atropos with fire in her eyes.

“Hmm, then should we discuss the next steps as prescribed in the threads of fate?” Atropos suggested.

They had a master plan for their future champion, but it would be a pitiful fate.

“That child doesn’t deserve to lose everything.” Clotho shook her head in despair. Theseus was a good person, unlike Lord Darkin.

“You’re too nice, Clotho. If he is to be the Champion of Fate, Theseus must lose everything, lose Oceanus. Only then can he rise to true Godhood.” Atropos cackled with a wicked smile.

***

Moving back to Lord Darkin’s old territory, the party made their way to the barrier that divided the Desolate from the Oceanic Realm.

“Is this the entrance?” Theseus asked one of Darkin’s former Captains.

”Yes. If you go through this runic gateway, you will enter the borderlands between the Oceanic Realm and the Desolate. Those who have defected are also in this space.” The Captain nodded. His name was Pantheon. Although he didn’t want to serve Oceanus over Lord Darkin, being in the borderlands was a foolish grasp at power in his eyes. It was better to make the most out of the bad situation. Oceanus wasn’t even that bad anyways.

“Thank you, Pantheon.” Theseus nodded back, and the party entered the Borderlands.

A dark path winded down into the shadowy abyss of the Desolate. Realistically, those who defected acted more like bandits now. The winding path had caves along the way, and the only way to survive in this hostile environment was to take refuge in these less than desirable dwellings.

As they made their way down into the depths of the Desolate, groups of bandits periodically stopped travelers, criminals, and traitors. Theseus and his party were no exception.

“Stop were you stand! Drop all of your belongings if you want to live!” One bandit yelled in desperation. It was obvious by their deteriorated equipment that they made the mistake of their lives by entering the Borderlands.

“Finally, food.” A menacing voice came from the back of the bandit group. The former F Rank Royalty Realm Captain under Lord Darkin, Agamemnon, was hungry for souls.

Stepping out, the former Captain stared at the party hungrily. Lustfully, he licked his lips. If not for Theseus and his party wearing hooded cloaks, they would have surely been recognized by the estranged ex-Captain. Centos, Naiad, and Ju Long got into positions to fight, fearfully. Even though Theseus was right next to them, Agamemnon was without a doubt the level of a weak Suzerain Lord.

“Gemini, watch.” Theseus walked casually in front of their group, in between them and the bandits. Taking out a pen and paper, Gemini watched intensely.

“Skill: Heavenly Pressure.” Theseus said and held out his hand weakly. Taking inspiration from Aries’s trump skill, Demonic Pressure, Theseus used light magic in the extreme, distorting the nearby space slightly to create a pressure similar to gravity.

Light shrouded Theseus in a small zone, impacting himself and Agamemnon while everyone else stood by in shock and confusion. Taking his account of Heaven in mind, it was as if a small zone from Heaven was copied and pasted itself into Hell within the small zone. Lights flickered and flashed in the zone, and some of the bystanders who had been to Heaven before, namely Ju Long, saw flashes and scenes of the great mountain in the zone, as if the lights reflected another world within them.

“Impossible!” Ju Long exclaimed, backing up slightly.

“What… is this?” Agamemnon had trouble standing while Theseus casually stood in the middle of the Pressure Zone, taking in the highest level of gravity.

“Wow, you’re better than I thought. I’ll use it again then.”

“Skill: Heavenly Pressure.”

The intensity of the pressure felt twice as heavy, and the lights intensified and shook its surroundings, like an earthquake of light.

“Ahh!” Agamemnon screamed in agony as he fell to the ground. Taking the brunt of one F Rank skill wasn’t enough to defeat him, but two was his limit. Theseus relinquished the zone and took his hood off.

“Agamemnon of the Suzerain Order, I am Theseus, Zero Elder of Oceanus. Submit to me and live a life worth living. Or, stay here in the darkness and hopelessness of the Desolate, forever.” Theseus declared. Goosebumps went down Vodyanoi’s spine.

“Theseus?” Agamemnon cried out as he stood back up while backing away in fear. Seeing the piercing grey eyes of Theseus staring back at him, the Shade realized who he was. This was the one who defeated Lord Darkin!

“Now that I’ve seen you, I have to admit, you are just as impressive as rumored.” Agamemnon admitted.

“Well? Will you leave this Heaven forsaken place and join Oceanus? A talent like you is hard to come by.” Theseus honestly implored. Agamemnon actually exceeded his expectations.

Despite Agamemnon being a bloodthirsty Shade, he was just as strong as the previous Suzerain Lords. In a fight, Theseus predicted that this Shade could have likely defeated the Lord Capricorn, Lord Jezebel, and the Lord Virgo that Theseus met when he first arrived in Hell. It was likely Agamemnon stayed as Darkin’s subordinate because he foresaw the impending disaster and thought Darkin would spare him.

“What’s in it for me?” Agamemnon glared.

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